![]() ![]() On a full charge, the MX-30 has a 100-mile range. Given how composed this chassis is, it'd be great to see a version of the MX-30 with a little more power. ![]() There's plenty of feel through the wheel, and while this is a front-wheel drive vehicle, it feels exceptionally planted and grippy in corners. Where Mazda's engineers have really delivered, however, is with the steering and handling. While that's not a tremendous amount of power, it's enough to perform well on the tight urban streets for which this compact crossover was clearly designed. ![]() Under the hood, the Mazda MX-30 features a 143 horsepower electric motor, and a 35.5 kWh battery. But by the end of my week with the MX-30, I found using it to be second nature, and appreciated how refreshing the minimal amount of screen area was. In the screen-happy environment of the current market, this hybrid system bucks the trend. The lower screen is a touchscreen, and is used exclusively for the climate controls, including the heated seats. It's controlled by a dial mounted in the middle of the console, and navigating it is easy enough, though a touchscreen would likely prove more intuitive for most users. The top one sits on the dashboard, and is used for navigation and entertainment options. The infotainment system in the MX-30 consists of two screens. The rear opening rear doors are a neat feature, however, and one that I'd like to see on more cars, even if they can be tricky to access in a tight parking space. But the rear seats are small enough that adults will be cramped, and almost makes the MX-30 more of a 2+2 than a proper five-passenger vehicle. Space wise, the driver and front passenger will have plenty of room. I'd never seen that in a car before, and it looked killer. Orange accent stripes on the seats provided a pop of color, and I really liked how the center console featured cork on the cup holder covers and the lower storage shelf. This wool-like fabric was also used on the door panels, and along with providing an interesting tactile experience, I thought it looked great. The seats featured white leatherette along the edges, and a recycled, wool-like material on the seating surfaces, as Mazda made using sustainable materials a focus. The cabin of the MX-30 features an interesting blend of materials, and overall, I thought it was well done. If those were body colored? I think it would go a long way toward enhancing the little Mazda's upmarket appearance. All told, the only element detracting from the upscale look of the MX-30 is the plastic cladding in the wheel wells and along the bottom of the doors. The two-tone red lights wouldn't look out of place on an exotic car, and the chrome accent at the base of my tester's C-pillar really made them pop. As opposed to being a more traditional flat lense, here they're rendered as cylinders with project out of sculpted little nooks next to the rear liftgate. My favorite exterior feature of the MX-30 is definitely the taillight assembly. Though the contrasting roof trend is becoming common across multiple segments, I think it's used to particularly good effect here. In both the front and the back, overhang is kept to a minimum, and how close the wheels are to each corner helps give it a go-kart-like appeal. While this is a four door, the rear doors are smaller and open to the rear, so in profile, it almost looks like a coupe. That made getting to drive this little Mazda an intriguing proposition, as those low production numbers make it one of the rarest press vehicles I've ever gotten the opportunity to test.įor a vehicle with a relatively small footprint, the Mazda MX-5 has a long hood, which gives it a sporty presence. Only 560 examples will be produced, and those will all be sold in California. That said, the 2022 Mazda MX-30 is an interesting offering, and for the first model year, it's also very much a limited edition. So I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the company's first all-electric vehicle. For over three decades, the MX-5 has been the go-to choice for folks who want a classic sports car experience, and Mazda's engineers have managed to instill the company's entire lineup with similarly inspired driving dynamics. Among enthusiasts, Mazda is known for producing vehicles which are as fun to drive as they are practical. ![]()
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